The Disney and Family Channel production stars Debby Ryan (right) as Abby Jensen, an almost 16-year-old girl whose secret birthday wishes come true after an encounter with a mysterious woman. Abby gets the attention of her crush, played by Jean-Luc Bilodeau , and revenge on her lifelong nemesis, but eventually it all goes terribly wrong and Abby must race to put things right.

In true Disney fashion, the story spins out predictably to reveal the  “be careful what you wish for” moral of the story. While the plot line is not a new one, the  story is good, the actors do a good job, and it ends up being a great TV movie for girls 8-15.

16 Wishes premiered on Disney Channel last night and will encore this evening, tomorrow, and throughout the month (check your Disney Channel listings).

“We apologize to our consumers and our customers and are working diligently to ensure that the affected products are rapidly removed from the marketplace,” said David Mackay, president and CE) of Kellogg Company. People with questions or who would like a replacement may contact the Kellogg Consumer Response Center at 888-801-4163 from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time.

* UPC 3800039136 1: 17 ounce package with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 10 2011 and JUN 22 2011
* UPC 3800039132 3: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between JUN 03 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg’s® Corn Pops®

* UPC 3800039109 5: 12.5 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
* UPC 3800039111 8: 17.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
* UPC 3800039116 3: 9.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 05 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg’s® Froot Loops®

* UPC 3800039118 7: 12.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
* UPC 3800039120 0: 17 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
* UPC 3800039125 5: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

Kellogg’s® Honey Smacks®

* UPC 3800039103 3: 15.3 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011

The state is facing its most serious outbreak of whooping cough in 50 years, with five infants under three months of age dying of the disease since January, and over 900 people becoming sick with the disease. Whooping cough can be deadly in infants because they are not fully protected against it until they have completed their first schedule of vaccinations when they reach six months of age.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an almost completely preventable disease, yet 900 cases of it  — over four times as many as this time last year — have been discovered. 600 more suspected cases of whopping cough are currently being investigated.

Whooping cough symptoms include cold-like symptoms that persist, and, after about 1 to 2 weeks, the dry, irritating cough evolves into violent coughing spells. A coughing fit can last for more than a minute, which may make the child  turn red or purple. At the end of a coughing fit, the child may make a characteristic whooping sound when breathing in, or may even vomit.

The most likely cause for the whooping cough epidemic is unvaccinated people, including other children.If the disease can find an unvaccinated host and survive long enough to infect others, the risk remains that the highly contagious and potentially fatal disease will strike more children.

The California Department of Public Health is advising that, “children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot.” They also advise that parents can protect their very young infants by minimizing exposure (close contact) with persons who have cold symptoms or cough illness. Coughing people of any age, including parents, siblings and grandparents can have pertussis. When a person has cold symptoms or cough illness, they need to stay away from young infants as much as possible.

This is the first physical discovery of the feared invasive species, and it’s causing a major backlash from environmental groups and law makers.

The Asian carp is a highly invasive species; due to their large size and rapid rate of reproduction, these fish could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes native species, the food chain and the entire ecosystem of the six Great Lakes.

Within minutes of the announcement of the Asian carp discovery, concerned parties slammed Illinois’ response to the Asian carp crisis, threatening legal action aimed at closing Chicago-area shipping locks.

Michigan Attorney General and anti-carp activist Mike Cox, whose lawsuit last year sparked a national debate about the Asian carp threat, again called on President Barack Obama to issue an immediate order to seal off the Great Lakes.

“He must take action immediately by ordering the locks closed and producing an emergency plan to stop Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan,” said Cox.

Mike White of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the discovery of a live Asian carp within striking distance of Lake Michigan will not alter how the agency operates the locks.

“At this time we see no reason … to take any step toward lock closure,” White said.

The carp were introduced to the waterways by catfish farmers in the 1970’s, who imported them to remove algae and suspended matter out of their ponds. During large floods in the early ’90s, many of the catfish ponds overflowed, and the Asian carp were released into local waterways in the Mississippi River basin.

Famous for movie roles in Baby Mama, her eight seasons on Saturday Night Live and her new series Parks and Recreation, Poehler partnered with long-time TV industry friends Meredith Walker and Amy Miles to create the series of web videos which “celebrates extraordinary girls who are changing the world by being themselves.”

Amy told the Huffington Post, “The idea [for the show] came out of us wishing we had a time machine so we could go back to the younger versions of ourselves and let them know it was gonna be OK. We wanted to do a show that we would have wanted to watch at that age. And we knew we wanted to have a dance party at the end. We basically started with the dance party and worked backwards.”

In the weekly web series (now on its second season on ON Network) Amy and friends interview a pre-teen girl with “a unique talent, community interest or point of view”, and they do it with a fun, quirky style that’s pure Poehler, and totally accessible to girls.

The actress and mom says of her subjects, “We looked for girls that had passions, girls who felt passionate about stuff, no matter what that was.” Each episode showcases an average “smart girl next door”, with guests including a young writer, a robot builder, a dancer and a gardener.

Without a doubt, Poehler, Walker and Miles provide positive, realistic role models to their audience, but its the guests who make Smart Girls At the Party one of the most inspiring and empowering shows for girls out there today.

When asked about the overall message of the show, Amy had this to say:  “Be yourself! And then tell us about it! And then let’s dance!” What more can you say? Check out the “Cameron the Writer” episode below!

Find more videos like this on Smart Girls at the Party

Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium opened its doors to the world and kicked off the World Cup party with a world-class spectacle featuring a mix of African culture, music and dance as well as some international stars.

On what is a very sad note, former South African President Nelson Mandela was unable to attend the ceremonies following the tragic death of his 13-year-old great-granddaughter in a car crash Thursday night returning from the kick off concert.

The extravaganza started with hundreds of African dancers in yellow, red, blue and green forming nine radial lines pointing to the stadiums where the matches will be played.

Angelique Kidjo, Grammy award winning singer led dancers onto the field to spread the message of brotherhood, hope and love to the crowd, and moved to form the African continent, with the announcer stating that Africa is the cradle of humanity, and that the world has returned home.

A parade of the participating World Cup country flags entered the stadium along with more dancers. Desmond Tutu and the the crowd of over 90,000 fans at Soccer City Stadium where dancing, singing and making one amazing, glorious noise.

Next, R. Kelly performed his FIFA World Cup anthem “Sign of a Victory.” with the Soweto Gospel Choir. Famous for his uplifting song,  “I Believe I Can Fly”, Kelly clearly struck a chord with the crowd with the song. Then, a crowd of kids spilled onto the field to spell out the 32  participating coutry names, with flags spinning in the background. Then the crowd on the performance area formed the official FIFA 2010 World Cup logo before running off the field.

The matches start today with host team South Africa facing off at 4pm EST against a confident Mexican team. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana (the Boys! the Boys!) have never won a World Cup final game, and they’re heading into the tournament with the weight of their country’s expectations on their shoulders. Mexico is a strong team,but South Africa is expected to perform well under the pressure and make the next round. Don’t count South Africa out — remember, the South African rugby team beat the odds to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup and help to unite their country. The 2009 movie Invictus is the touching underdog story brought to the big screen.

Will the South African squad hold up under the weight of their country’s expectations? Will Mexico break their streak of underwhelming World Cup showings?

Watch the 2010 World Cup Drama unfold!

The big deal is that for one month every four years, the whole world sets aside its differences to cheer on their favorite national soccer teams. Part of the magic of the World Cup is that it shares the basic qualities of an Olympic games; the rivalries, the heartbreaking losses, the improbable wins, the controversial calls and the sometimes theatrical athletes. It’s a mosaic of human emotion, culture and passion. The point is, it’s a really big global celebration, and you can  bring the party right to your living room.

We’re not suggesting that you stop your family’s life to follow each World Cup match (though we strongly encourage face painting and flag waving!), but taking the time to show your kids the way a whole world can unite over something as simple as soccer can have a lot of benefits.

Aside from enjoying the opening ceremonies and the inspirational World Cup songs, there is even more fun and learning to be had. Here are just a few ways parents can make watching the World Cup into a fun learning opportunity that kids won’t forget.

Teamwork & Sportsmanship

Teaching kids teamwork is easy when you’re watching a game that depends on passing between players and anticipating when your teammate will need you. Point out plays in the game where a bad play could have been fixed with a pass to a teammate. Explain why a player is sent off for an illegal tackle, and make sure you tell the truth about some of the theatrics players stoop to — tell your child that those moments aren’t part of the goodness of the game, and explain that the players who do it aren’t playing fair. Make sure to point out when members of opposite teams help eachother up and show the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Competition & Hard Work

Obviously, these players are true athletes. They have worked hard, practiced and dedicated their lives to reach that level of sport! Explain to your kids in the context of a win, what it takes to succeed in most things. Hard work, dedication and practice — all excellent lessons that apply easily to school, sports and interests your child may have.

Culture & Diversity

The month-long tournament is made up of 32 national teams who qualified for the competition based on their success in the qualifying matches that took place around the world throughout 2009. That’s 32 other countries to learn about — from language to food, to music and dancing, this is an opportunity to open up a whole new world to your child. Ask them to pick the flag they think is the coolest, then do a little research on the country’s traditions to get the ball rolling.

How to Win and Lose Gracefully

The best lesson to teach from a losing situation is that good old classic; If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! When a team you’re rooting for loses, it’s a good opportunity to let your kids know that you can’t win every time. Stress to them that it is okay to lose a game as long as you tried your best, and sometimes a team, game or player can be unlucky or have a bad day. On the flip side, celebrate a win with your kids with dancing and high-fives, but make sure to discourage any gloating or told-you-so-ing with a gentle reminder that it’s not okay to make someone feel bad about losing.

So why should you and your kids tune in to the 2010 World Cup? So you can teach them about different parts of the world, expose them to a healthy sport they may want to try, and show them that the world can come together over something as simple as a black and white ball.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the General Electric Company (GE) have announced a recall of of the washing machines which were manufactured from December 2006 to February 1, 2010.  The units are white, have a round door and can be identified by the control panel unique to these particular models.

The recalled GE model number is WBVH5.  The recalled serial numbers began with AM, AR, AS, AT, DM, DR, DS, FM, FR, FS, GM, GR, GS, HM, HR, HS, LM, LR, LS, MM, MR, MS, RM, RR, RS, SM, SR, SS, TM. TR, TS, VM, VR, VS, ZL, ZM, ZR, ZS.

To find out more about the recall, visit the GE website or call the GE Recall Hotline (1-888-345-4124) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET. to determine if your washer is included in the recall.

If you’ve never watched a spelling bee, you’re missing out. I’m not even kidding. The tension is palpable, the kids are genius, and the words they’re asked to spell are some of the weirdest you’ve ever seen. Don’t believe me? Check out the winning words that made spellers into national champions:

The spelling bee takes place on the Independence Concourse of the Grand Hyatt in downtown Washington, DC, but unfortunately, the event is not open to the general public. Probably because crazy spelling people like me would be yelling out the wrong answers and distracting the competitors.

Will it be the biggest, most challenging spelling bee ever? Find out when Erin Andrews (Dancing With the Stars) and Chris Harrison (host of The Bachelorette and The Bachelor) host the live coverage of the final rounds. You know I’ll be watching; I never did live down my second-place finish in my 6th grade spelling bee, so I need to experience the drama through one of the 327  ridiculously smart kids.

You can watch Scripps National Spelling Bee 2010 here:

• The Semifinals air live on ESPN from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 4.
• The Championship Finals air live on ABC from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 4.

When little Jonathan’s cochlear implant is turned on, he immediately turns and becomes so entranced by his mom’s voice, he drops his soother and breaks into a string of the biggest baby smiles ever, including a coo and a squeal. What a beautiful moment to see. TGIF, everybody!

My own limited snowboarding experience involved a lot of falling on my butt and rolling around on the ground. I guess it helps when the ground is only a few inches away!

What do you think of Ava’s parents putting her on a board at such a young age? Would you put your kids on skis or a snowboard at one year old? Either way, watch this little shredder and future snowboarding champ.

Considering that Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, the sex ed teachings are decidedly unconventional — even by most North American standards.

Using anatomically correct male and female dolls, teachers help children learn the correct names for body parts, explain differences between male and female anatomy, and answer the age old question “where do babies come from”.

Spearheaded by the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association and The World Population Fund in 2006, the program is targeting such a young demographic to help young children gain a level of comfort with their own bodies and others’, and understand when they are at risk from a sexual predator. The program tells kids specifically how to identify inappropriate touching, and gives them tools for deal with unwanted physical contact. Sexual intercourse is not covered in the program at all.

Teacher Masam admits she was uncomfortable with the program until she realized the benefits. In the video she asks students, “What part of our body should not be touched by someone else?” and “If I grab you from behind and touch your belly button, what do you say?” The children respond confidently to these questions, obviously wielding the knowledge and tools they’ve been taught.

While the long-term results of the program are not clear yet, one program leader states that the lessons are paying off. “We’re seeing students respecting their bodies. The girls have more courage to speak to the boys, to bluntly tell them when there is something they don’t like.”

What do you think about sexual education for kindergartners? Do you think programs like this one could help guard kids from predators and empower them to speak out against unwanted physical contact? Or is kindergarten-age simply too young to start teaching kids about sex?

Watch the full video report on CNN.

(Source CNN)

Aside from his fondness for putting the F-word in his book titles, Oliver James is well known for his views on the “nurture” side of parenting, and his stress on the importance of early childhood development.

Already creating a buzz in parenting circles, How Not To F*** Them Up states that mothers of toddlers should avoid working outside the home or leaving young children in the care of others for long periods.

He writes that young children “need to be in the presence of a responsive, loving adult at all times. As a parent of a child of this age, you need to realize that if things go pear-shaped it is actually always your fault, in the sense that if you keep a close enough eye on them you can prevent atrocities.” James also compares strict disciplining of young children to training them “like a dog in a laboratory”. How’s that for a guilt trip?

Despite his arguments for intensive one-on-one parenting, James says that he is “not remotely anti working mothers”. He says, “I really don’t want to make life more difficult. I’m really trying to make it easier.”

We’re not so sure about that, Mr. James.

What do you working mothers out there think? Is James’ theory and advice  realistic? What do you do with the myriad parenting advice out there?

How Not To F*** Them Up by Oliver James will hit bookshelves on June 3.

Gurecki-Haskins is charged with official misconduct for allegedly having oral sex with a 17-year-old student at the Canandaigua Academy where she has worked since 1995. The charges would be more serious, but 17 is the age of consent. We wonder how the 17-year-old’s parents are reacting to the law of age of consent.

On top of the “official misconduct” charge, Gurecki-Haskins, 36,  allegedly invited at least two 16-year-old boys to engage in sexual acts with her through text messages. According to official court documents, Gurecki-Haskins is accused of “participating in the nature of text messaging that encourages sexual intercourse between the accused and two male students 16 years of age.”

Police have been investigating the accusations against  Marla Gurecki-Haskins since early April, and the investigation into the teacher’s misconduct is not over. Officials say they have between 2,400 and 2,500 pages of emails and text messages to examine.

Unfortunately, Marla Gurecki Haskins’ misconduct with young students is not the first case of a female educator taking advantage of their position in an educational institution. High profile cases similar to this one include Mary Kay Letourneau, who served 7 1/2 years in prison for raping a minor — a student of hers. After serving her sentence, Letourneau married her victim, Vili Fualaau, and raised two children with him.

What would cause the long list of seemingly upstanding young female teachers to engage in such inappropriate acts with young students? Is this an epidemic in our school systems? And what can be done to prevent these terrible violations against our kids?

According to an announcement by Walmart and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the General Electric company has issued a major recall of over 900,000 12-cup digital coffee makers. So far, Walmart has received 83 reports of overheating, smoking, melting, burning and fire.

Check out the model numbers included in the GE coffee maker recall: 169164 and 169165.  The were models sold exclusively in Walmart from March 2008 to January 2010, and you can check the serial numbers on the base of the coffee maker unit.

Contact Walmart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday for more information on what to do. Visit the full recall information at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The futuristic Gumby-like creatures,  Wenlock the Olympic mascot, and Mandeville, his Paralympic counterpart will grace official Olympic merchandise from stuffed toys, to mugs, to clothing.

According to children’s author, Michael Morpurgo, who wrote the story of  the mascots, the pair are molded from steel left over from the last girder on the Olympic stadium. When asked to describe his creations, designer Grant Hunter of London-based firm Iris said they were “magical beings” that would become “multi-dimensional” and capture the imagination of children across the world.

Ok! Thanks for clearing that up for us.

While Mandeville and Wenlock are neither cuddly nor cute (being made of metal and all), organizers say the  metal cyclops duo will be popular with children. In fact, the strange one-eyed pair are expected to generate over 70 million pounds (over 100 million US dollars) for the games.

While you might assume that a London-based mascot would incorporate some sort of recognizable landmark, cultural entity or nod to the history of the city, the only semi-recognizable feature on Wenlock and Mandeville are the orange lights on their heads, which are inspired by the signs on top of the city’s iconic black cabs.

And what about those weird names? Wenlock’s name comes from the village of Much Wenlock in Shropshire, where a multi-sport event inspired the founder of the Olympic movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Mandeville’s name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville, a pioneering hospital established to help former soldiers suffering from spinal injuries.

While Vancouver’s winter Olympic mascots Miga the Sea Bear, Quatchi the Sasquatch and Sumi, the Thunderbird at least incorporated animals and elements of Native American culture, we don’t see ANY signs that Mandeville and Wenlock are connected to anything — except perhaps, to the wallets of parents everywhere.

What do you think of these distinctive mascots? Will you be opening your wallet to get your kids one of these strange mascots come summer 2012?

Here’s the story: Obama was visiting a local wing restaurant in Cheektowaga, Buffalo where the 45-year-old Luann was lucky enough to bump into him. Now, imagine for a moment that you’re meeting the President. Picture it.

Would the first words out of your mouth allude to Mr. President’s physique? Probably not, for most people. Well, evidently, Luann Haley isn’t most people. Upon meeting Obama, Luann stated, “You’re a hottie with a smokin’ little body”.

Yes, you read that right. She told the President of the United States of America that he is a hottie. With a smokin’ body. Like the graceful gentleman he is, Obama composed himself and gave Luann a hug — and joked that his wife Michelle would be watching. But Luann had more to say!

“That’s right Michelle, eat your heart out!’ she cried as she faced the cameras.

Luann now admits that she’s embarrassed by her behavior, telling the New York Post, “I feel like a total jerk. I’m just hoping it doesn’t get to the president’s wife. It is a funny thing, but I’m catching some hell.”

Hell indeed, Luan Haley! Didn’t your mother teach you better manners?

What do you think? Is calling the President a “hottie” and joking about his body funny, or utterly inappropriate?

Photo Courtesy of Reuters

After two days of deliberation, the Catoosa County Superior Court jury found  37-year-old  Craft not guilt on all charges.

In a previous post on the Tonya Craft trial we reported that the charges against her included 10 counts of child molestation, 6 counts of aggravated sexual battery and 6 counts of aggravated child molestation. Craft has maintained her innocence since she was arrested in June, 2008.

She told NBC’s Today Show that “her whole heart was stolen” by the ordeal and the verdict only gave her back half. Craft lost custody of her two children after her arrest in 2008.

“Until I get my children, I won’t have my heart back,” she said. Craft has lost her job, her children and her home since she was first accused of the charges.

For almost one full minute, 40-year-old special education teacher Sherri Davis appears to kick, pull and punch a 13-year-old student while classmates cheer and laugh. Captured by a student using a cell phone, here is the ugly, ugly proof of the incident.

Says a Jamie’s House school spokesperson, “Obviously when we saw the video there was no doubt that the teacher would be terminated.”

The teacher was placed on leave after the child’s mother notified school administrators of her son came home with bruises and a black eye, and was officially terminated on Monday.

While Jamie’s House is a charter school for students for disciplinary problems, the spokesperson said that no matter what the boy may have done to provoke the teacher, he didn’t deserve the physical assault from the teacher.

As a parent, what would you do in this situation? Do you think termination from her job is enough punishment for Sherri Davis, or should she be charged with assault, or more? What responsibility does the school’s administration have in all of this?

The 12 year old 6th-grader rocked Gaga’s hit at his school’s music night with a piano and vocal solo performance that will leave you wondering if this kid will end up following the same trajectory to fame as talented teens like Bieber.

Greyson sounds amazing, looks incredibly poised, and if you watch the audience – he clearly captures the girls’ hearts. We wonder if he can dance too? Says Greyson of Gaga, “Lady Gaga is a freak but she has so much talent and her style of music is what I would like mine to be when [I'm] older.”

The video of the performance has swept the internet — and no wonder! Check Greyson out! His parents must be so proud!

These tiny teacup-sized piggies are born weighing about 9 ounces — a little more than half a pound, and grow to be the size of a cocker spaniel at about 60 pounds. According to breeder Jane Croft, micro pigs are a cross between pot-bellied , Tamworth, Kune Kune and Gloucester Old Spot breeds, and they make great pets.

Says Croft, “They make fantastic pets. They’re really clean. They’re highly intelligent and just love to be loved. They give so much back to you.”

“People love pigs so much, but it’s almost impossible to keep a full-grown pig in the house,” Croft explained. “Now that we’ve gotten them down to this size, they’ve become extremely popular.”

These little piggies are undeniably cute! But are teacup pigs really the next big pet craze? Would you let your kids bring home a teeny tiny piggy?

From 5pm to 10pm today, participating Baskin Robbins locations will charge only 31 cents for a scoop of delicious ice cream. The reason for the delicious deal? The Baskin Robbins Community Foundation, will donate $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).

For those of us pinching pennies – which is pretty much all of us these days – this is a great way to get the family out for a treat and give back to the firefighters who keep our communities safe. So head out to your local Baskin Robbins and get a cone or two – you might even catch a local firefighter scooping for you!

 Whether you’re a new mother, a mom-to-be, or a mother with adult kids, this is your day to relax and get pampered by your family – so take advantage of it! As much as mom’s deserve it, the reality is that most mothers don’t actually get to stop their routines for a whole day to relax and enjoy their day. But, you can enjoy Mother’s Day a little more this year with a few tips to keep in mind.

Ask for what you want

Your best bet for getting what you want this Mother’s Day? Ask for it! Make it simple for everyone and ask your family for exactly what you’d appreciate most. Think about requesting time for a long, uninterrupted bath with a good book, or maybe a quiet night in alone with your partner while your kids attend a sleepover at grandma’s house.

If you’d love to get a gift, subtly suggest to an adult family member a present that kids can afford or find easily – it could be as simple as a bouquet of wildflowers, a specially-made Mother’s Day craft, or a bottle of your favorite perfume.

Plan it yourself (yes, really!)

It sounds a little counter-intuitive, but planning your own celebration can make it that much easier to do what you want on Mother’s Day. Gather up the kids, your own mom and family, and head out to a pot-luck picnic, or consider a family outing to the museum, art gallery or science center. There are lots of activities to choose from – and the best part is, you get to pick!

Somewhere between the laundry, grocery shopping, peace-keeping, cooking, and, let’s be real here – most likely your full-time job, we hope you get a chance to sit back and reflect on your amazing feats of mothering and bask in your children’s love – on your own terms.

Check out this hilarious Mother’s Day video from two loving sons to their lucky mom!

While Cryptococcus gattii is a well-known and well-documented airborne fungus that the Centers for Disease Control and various medical institutions have been watching closely since its appearance in British Columbia in the late 90s, scientists are concerned that as Cryptococcus gattii moves south into warmer climates, the fungus could spread more rapidly.

Five of the 21 people who contracted Cryptococcus gattii in the U.S. have died (about 25%), while 8.7% of the 218 infected people in Canada died of the exposure. The fungus has also infected several species of plants and mammals.

“Overall, I don’t think it is a large threat at this time,” said molecular biologist Edmond J. Byrnes III of Duke University Medical Center, the lead author of the report appearing in the online journal PLoS Pathogens. “But the fact that it is continuing to spread geographically and the number of cases is rising makes it a concern.”

Because Cryptococcus gattii is a fungus, it’s not transmitted from person to person like H1N1 or a cold virus, but through fungi spores which can be blown by wind or transported on items like car tires, shoes and clothing, which makes preventative measures like hand washing ineffective.

“We need physicians to be aware of this and think about it when they see symptoms of infection,” said epidemiologist Julie Harris of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “This is a serious infection, but so far it’s a rare infection.”

Symptoms of infection can appear two months or more after exposure and include chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, fever and a cough that lasts for weeks.

We’ve posted photos of several cool celebrity parents such as Brad and Angelina, Gwen Stefani, and Jessica Alba. But now, we end it with the only people it can end with: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Their daughters Malia and Sasha have elevated into worldwide celebrities because of their powerful parents, but they are still just normal kids. Check out these photos of the pair and their awesome mom and dad.